Supplementation with tocotrienol-rich vitamin E may benefit metabolic function, according to results from a new clinical trial.

This study on tocotrienol, a form of vitamin E derived from palm oil, elucidated a correlation between supplementation of 400 mg daily of the ingredient and improved biological markers related to metabolic syndrome in diabetic patients.

Researchers at Monash University Malaysia found that study participants who ingested a tocotrienol-rich vitamin E product called Tocovid had significantly reduced creatinine, one of these biomarkers, compared to the placebo group. Tocovid contains a branded form of toctrienol called EVNol SupraBio, manufactured by Malaysia-based ExcelVite.

A research grant from the university partially funded the study, in addition to funding from the tocotrienol manufacturer.

Building on previous evidence​

The biomarkers they analyzed were those specifically linked to diabetes-related kidney damage, also known as nephropathy.

“Eight weeks of high-dose Tocovid did not improve [six other biomarkers] in patients with diabetic nephropathy, [but it] significantly reduced serum creatinine compared to placebo​,” the researchers wrote in their study, published​​ last month in the journal Nutrients​.

“Therefore, Tocovid may be a useful addition to the current treatment for diabetic nephropathy.”​

The researchers built on previous studies looking at tocotrienol’s potential interaction with the metabolic system. Last year, Monash researchers found that tocotrienol supplementation improved markers of metabolic syndrome in rats​​.

Study details​

Participants were recruited from an existing pool of patients who come for regular follow-ups at the Monash University Clinical Research Center in Malaysia.

The criteria to enroll included: Aged between 18 and 80 years old, and diagnosed with type 2 diabetes with stable glucose control.

In total, 45 patients completed the study—22 in the intervention group and 23 in the placebo group. The intervention group was supplemented with 400 mg a day of a tocotrienol-rich vitamin E.

This is a relatively high dosage for the nutrient. “The high dosage of Tocovid was used because previous clinical studies showed that Tocovid at low doses did not yield significant results,” ​the authors wrote.

All participants ingested their assigned supplement twice a day for eight weeks. Biomarkers were assessed at the beginning and at the end of the eight weeks.